Compressor lubricator



Jan. 10, 1928.

A. S. OSBOURNE COMPRESSOR LUBRIGATOR Filed July 10, 1924 INVENTQR WWNESSESS Patented Je; 1Q, 1928.

UruTaD STATES PATENT orifice.

AFRED El. OSEO'URNE, OF INGRAM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 CHCAGO LUERICTOR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS, A CORPORA- 'rroiv or inniivois.

COMPRESSOR LUBRICATOR.

Y Application filed July 10,

rl`his invention relates to lubricators, and particularly to a lubricator associated with lluid compressors or similar poive: units.

lt is an objectief the invention to provide alubricator which is simple in construction, compact, durable, efficient in operation, and vwhich Will not easily get out ot order.

It' is a special object to provide a lubricator which can be readily adjusted to take care or varying operating conditions, which when connected to a compressor to supply lubricant thereto will i'unction to feed the supply onlyV during the actual operation ot the compressor, which Will promptly and positively initiate iioiv oi the lubricant upon the start-- ing ot the compressor and likewise proinptly and positively discontinue such flow upon stopping ot' the compressor and without material lag in respect to the pressure main: tained by the compressor, one which While crible in that it can be set to meet various conditions is extremely sensitive in its action, and oneV which can be readily set to deliver diti'erent quantities oi lubricant at predetermined fixed rates unadected by 'variations in the Vdischarge ressure maintained by the compressor.

it is another special object to provide a oricator oi such character which comprises or' similarly constructed units so to simultaneously supply lub ioant to number of points either at the saine or varying rates, one which is equipped with valve means interposed in the lubricant corveying or supply ducts capable of automatically accommodating themselves to assure a complete cutting oil ot the libricant vhenever the unit is shut dovvn.

iii further special object is to provide a lubricating system for a motor driven con presser enabling the control means 'for the motor and the means for controlling the tloiv oi lubricant to the compressor to be coordinated so as to viunction to automatically supply lubricant to the compressor throughout its entire period of operation but not otherwise.

These and other objects ot the invention will more iully appear when taken in conjunction with the following description and the appended claims.

ln the drawings, Fig. l is a diagrammatic vieuv illustrating a motor driven compressor system equipped with the invention; and

1924. Serial No. 725,268.

l? ig. 2 a fragmentary view in section showing the. detailed construction ot the mechanism tor initiating and stopping the lioiv lof the lubricant to the compressor.

As illustrated, the invention shown as applied to a iluid compressor of the multistage type wherein l designates the low pressure stage and 2 the high pressure stage, which are driven by the high and loiv pressure cylinders 3 and 4, respectively, of a steam engine connected thereto.

Associated with the compressor is a force feed lubricating device otl a conventional type designated generally at 5 for supplying the lubricant under pressure, but since this particular device forms no part oi the present invention, it need not be described in detail. Qrdinarily, the lubricant is supplied trom the device 5 under a pressure corresponding to that in the boiler trom which the supply of steam for driving the engine is taken, the supply of steam for the engine being introduced through the conduit 6 in Which is interposed a pressure controlled throttle valve mechanism indicated at 7.

The compressor l-Q is equipped with the usual discharge pipe 8 Which delivers the compressed fluid to the storage 'tank 9 from which it may be drawn through the delivery conduit l0. interposed at any convenient point in the discharge pipe 8 is a connection ll from which leads a branch pipe l2 associated With the pressure controlled mechanism for actuating the throttle valve 7. The control mechanism for the throttle ot the engine is oi the type adapted to admit steam to the engine cylinders S--i Whenever the pressure in the discharge ol the compressor ialls below a predetermined low point, and to cut oil the steam supply thereto Whenever the discharge pressure has been restored to a predetermined maximum.

Another branch pipe 13 leads from the connection ll and establishes communication between the compressor discharge and the pressure chamber ot a pressure-actuated con` trol head indicated generally at ll. A conduit l5 conducts lubricant 'from the ydevice 5 to the lubricant receiving chambers of a pair ot lubricant regulating heads designated at 16 and lo', branches 15', l5, leading from the outlet openings oi"- the lubricant receivingl cl ambers ot these respective' heads to the low pressure and high pressure stages 21 threadedly engaging 1 and 2, respectively, ot the con'ipressor, all as clearly illustrated in F ig. 1 o'j the drawings. Interposed in the branch connected to the low pressure stage ci the compressor is a non-return or check valve 17, and likewise interposed in the branch 15 in advance ot the high pressure stage 2 of the compressor is a non-return valve 17. The non-return valves 17 and 17 serve to effectively prevent the back flow of lubricant and the escape oi air trom the compressor towards the regulating heads 16,A 16. It dcsired, the conduit 1o may be provided with a cut otl valve 18 at a point between the device 5 and the regulating heads.

The pressure chamber of the control head 111 is designated at 19, pressure iiuid being delivered thereto through the pipe 13 connected to the valve block 20 in which the chamber 19 is located by means ot' a union the projecting nipple 21. One side of the pressure chamber 19 is formed by movable impertorate di phragm 22 seated at its periphery upon a shouldered portion at one side of the chamber 19 which is surmounted by a guiding and sealing annulus 23, the annulus being forcibly pressed against one side of the dia-- phragm by means of the inner end of a cap 2% threadedly engaging an internally threaded bore in the valve bloclr forming a continuation of the chamber 19, as indicated at 25.

' A fluid conducting passageway or duct 26 leads from the side of the chamber 19 opposite the diaphragm 22 through the body of the block, and establishes communication with the leakage or venting chamber ot' the regulating head 1G', as will be described subsequently more in detail, The inlet to the duct 26 is shaped as indicated at 26 to term a valve seat which is adapted to cooperate With the lower extremity of a needle valve 27.v lThe needle valve 27 is carried by the movable diaphragm 22, and is suspended in operative'position by means oit a backing block 2S. having an enlarged portion 28 directly. abutting the upper face 0f the diaphragm and slidingly fitting within the bore of the annulus 23. The main body of the block 28 slidingly fits within a bore at the lower end ot the cap 21.1-, in the manner indicated at 29. The backing block is also provided with a centrally disposed recess in which is threadedly fitted the nut 30 having the flanged extremity 30 and a longitudinal bore through which the needle valve 27 proliects. The flanged portion 80', when the nut is screwed home is adapted to clamp the diaphragm between it and the lower face of the block 28, and ordinarily a vasher 3l is interposed between the flange 30 and the diaphragm.

rThe relative proportions of the nut 30 and the recess within toe backing block 28 are such that the recess is not completely filled after the nut has been screwed home but provides suilicient room for the headed extremity 27 of the needle valve and a small coiled spring encircling the stem of 'the valve and interposed between the head 2r and the adjacent tace ot the nut 30.

tion of the nut wit-hin the cap, the ten-V sion et spring be varied in an obvious fashion. ln order that the nut may be readily adjusted, it is provided, at its upper end with a polygonal extension which may be engaged by a wrench, but in order to prevent tampering therewith, this portion is ordinarily covered by means of a top piece 36 tlnadablyengaging the body of the nut. The interior of the cap 24 is placed in tree communication with the atmosphere by means of an aperture 37.l

The conduit 15 conducts lubricant from the supply device 5 to the lubricant receiving chamber 40 et the regulating head 16, being connected to the opposite end of the valve block 2O from the point of connection Vof the conduit 13 by means of a union Ll1 which is threadably engaged with the nipple Li2, in a. manner similar to that previously described in connection with the conduit 13.

Depending from the regulating head 16 immediately below the lubricant receiving chamber a0 is a nipple L13 which is connected to the branch 15 by means of the union 1-1. Anchored within the body of the block 2O at a point between the chamber l0 and the knipple 413 isa nozzle ift provided with. a

longitudinal duct -lshaped to form a valve seat adjacent the chamber l0 as indicated at L16, The valve seat 1G is adapted to cooperate With the lower tapered Aend of a needle valve 47 carried by a movable abutment in the form of a flexible diaphragm 18 forming one wall of the chamber 40.

The diaphragm is anchored within a lll) bore forming a continuation of the chamber .t0 by means of an annulus 19 corresponding in all respects to the annulus 23, previously described. Thevalve 17 is likewise connected to the diaphragm a8 by means of a backing blocl; 50, a nut 51 anchored in a central recess in the bloelr, and an interposed washer 52, all in a manner simliar to the construction of the control valve already described.

The cap portion 53 ot the regulating head 16 forms closed casing which houses a coiled compression spring 54 abutting at its lower end the backing block 50 and at its upper end against a shouldered portion of the top ot the cap, and surrounds an adjustable limiting stop adjustably threaded through the top oi the cap. The limiting stop 55 is equipped with a squared end 55 adapted to be engaged by a wrench so as to vai1v the position oi' its iov-.fer eX remity for limiting the opening movement of the valve i7 to desired extent. rl`he squared end 55 is housed within a removable top piece to prevent tampering with the limiting stop after adjustment.

A space is provided between the lower threaded extremity ol the cap 53, the annulus i9 and the enlarged portion oi the backing block 50 in Contact with the diaphragm 1&3, as shown at 57, which space is placed in communication with the interior of the cap 53 by means ot the duct 53, or alternatively by the provision oi a backing block 50 which loosely lits within the bore at the lower extremity or" lthe cap so as to provide room for leakage from the space 57 to the interior of the cap. The space 57 together with the space within the interior of the cap 53 terms a leakage or venting chamber which is placed in communication with the atmosphere through the restricted p rt 59, flow from the venting chamber' to the restricted portbeing facilitated by means o'i the annular passageway 60.

The regulating head 16 is identical in construction with the regulating head 16, being provided with the depending nipple connected to the branch 15 by means or" the union all. The details of the valve mechanism used in connection with the regulating head16 therefore need not be described in detail, corresponding parts being designated by the same reference numerals previously used in describing the regulating head 16 but with an attached exponent a The passageway 26 communicates directly with the annular' passageway 6G ot' the regulating head 16 and the annular passageways GO and 60L are placed in communication by means ot the short duct 70. The lubricant receiving chambers 40 and 40a are likewise placed in communication by means ot a passageway or duct 71.

Due to the provision ot the small compression spring 32, the needle valve 27 is permitted to adjust itself automatically to its seat 25 within the limits permitted by the iree play provided between the valve stem and the bore through the nut 30, and .likewise the needle valves 47 and 47a accommodate themselves to the valve seats provided in the nozzles 44 and sa in the same manner.

ln use, the valve 27 is normally seated to prevent ow trom the pressure chamber 19 through the passageway 26 to the lubricant regulating heads, and the tension of the compression spring dei is adjusted so that the valve 27 will be unseated at the same pressure in the discharge pipe 3 at `which the control means 7 will function to close the throttle valve o the motor, and will he reseated whenever the pre in vthe discharge oi the compressor rails to a point to actuate the throttle valve 7 to start the motor 3 4. For this reason, the pipes 12 and 13 connected to the throttle valve control means and the control head 1li, respectively, are led from the common connection 11.

Assuming the pressure in the discharge line 8 to tall sufficiently to open the throttle valve to the engine and coincidently therewith to peru it the closing of the valve 27, any pressure 'fluid previously admitted to the space above the diaphragme 48a and '-13 will escape thro'lwh the port 59 and permit the pressure or" ie lubricant constantly supplied to the lubricant receiving chambers el() and 0a to open the valves a7 and 47a, and

lubricaniV 'o the two stages ot the compressor thro` i the branches 15 and 15 iis long as the p 3 remains below f `t tor which the spring and the regulating tension means in the valve control 7 have been adjusted, lubricant will be supplied through the conduit 15 and the branches 15 and l5 in this manner.

frs soon as the discharge pressure in the line. 3 reaches the predeter rlined height tor which the spring has been set, the needle valve will be opened, permitting pressure luid to flow from the pipe 13 to the passageway and in turn to the space above the diaphragms 48 and d8, consequently forcing' the valves i7 and 47a to their seats and cutting olli further ilow of the lubricant to the compressor.

By properly coordinating the tension ot the spring 3a with the tension means used in connection with the throttle control valve means 7, it is apparent that the opening and closing oie the valves -l7 and a7 may be elected upon the starting and stopping of the driving vmotor for the compressor, and due to the relative proportions of the parts providing tree low through the several passageways and ducts oi the valve mechanism, will immediately effect actuating the needle valves controlling the liow ol the lubricant. whenever the valve 27 or' the control head is moved either to its opened or closed position. ln this manner, tlow ot lubricant to the compressor is l in a positive mani itiateu ner upon the starting ot the dri ving motor, and lilewise discontinues such flow promptly and positively upon the stoppage oi the l motor and compressor.

The rate at which the lubricant is ted 'rom the conduit 15 to the branches 15 and 15 may be suitably varied by properly adjusting the limiting stops 55 and 55,

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which determine the degree of opening` movement ot' the valves a7 and efr-7a. Because of the independence of the adjusting means tor the two regulating heads 16 and 16, it is apparent that the rate ot ilow oi' the lubricant to the two stages ot the compressor may be varied to suit the operating conditions thereof and irrespective ot the starting and stopping of the flow of the lubricant.

The invention has been particularly described as embodied in a compressor' having two stages, and consequently two regulating heads 1G and 1G have been shown. 1t is obvious, however, that any number et stages may be used, the numberoi regulating heads varying in accordance therewith, the several regulating heads being arranged in series in the same manner as the two heads 16 and 16, with the head et' the series directly connected to the conduit 15 provided with ay leakage port corresponding to the port 59. y

It is also obvious that although the lubricator has been particularly described as used in connection with a compressor system, i may be used in conjunction with any similar vpower unit for delivering lubricant to a plurality ot' points.

A feature of great practical importance is the ready interchangeability ot' the various parts of the valve mechanisms, as `vill be obvious from an inspection of 2 o'j the drawings. This -feature notonly extends to the use of the parts in the control and regulating heads 1a, 15, and 16, but likewise to the pressure controlled throttle valve mechanism 7, many ot' the parts ot' which may be designed to correspond to those employed in the said heads.

,Although the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof, a` required by the patent statutes, it is obvious that many changes in details as well as in the arrangement ol parts may be made without departing from the spirit ot' the invention, and it is therefore not intended to limit the invent-ion beyond that particularly pointed out and defined by the appended claims.

l claim:

1. 'lhe combina-tion oi a motor, a conipressor driven thereby, means for starting and stopping the motor in response to predeterminedlow and high pressure conditions ol the fluid delivered by the compressor, means for supplying lubricant under pressure, a conduit for' conducting lubricant from said means to the lating head interposed in said conduit including a casing having a movable diaphragm diddinn the casing into two chambers disposed at the opposite sit thereof, one of said chambers receiving the lubricant from the supply means, a valve carried by the oiaphragm for controlling the flow otl the lubricant from said lubricant receiving chamber to the compressor, said diaphragm being continually subjected to the pressure of the lubricant in the receiving chamber whereby tending te urge the said valve to its open condition', and means responsive to the compressor discharge pressure when it reaches a predetermined point tor admit-ting pressure vfluid to the chamber opposite the lubricant receiving chamber whereby to close the said valve.

2. The combination a motor, a compresser driven thereby, means for starting and stopping the motor inV response to predetermined low and high pressure condi-i tions ot the fluid delivered by the compresser, means for supplying lubricant under pressure, a conduit for conducting lubricant :trein said means to the compressor, a regulating head interposed in said conduit including a casing having a movable diaphragm dividing the casing into two chambers disoesed at the opposite sides thereof, one of said chambers receiving the lubricant from the supply means, a valve carried by the diaphragm for controlling the flow ot' the lubricant from said lubricant receiving chamber to thev compressor, said diaphragm being continually subjected to the-pressure of the lubricant receiving chamber whereby tending' to urge the said valve to its open condition, means for conducting pressure luid to the chamber opposite the lubricant receiving chamber, a normally closed control valve for governing admission of the pressure fluid to the said chamber, and means responsive to the pressure at the discharge end oli' the compressor tor opening the control valve to admit pressure nui d to' the said chamber whenever' the discharge pressure reaches a predeterminej height.

ln testimony whereof, sign my naine.

ALFRED' S.

COH'IPYCSSOF, 21 IGglhl 

